AWAKE

It's that time of year again.

I'm home for Thanksgiving break and instead of posting what I'm thankful for, I want to reflect on something completely different.

Last Friday night I got an email from this organization PULSE movement, who promotes and organizes outreach events for college students at state universities. This specific event was held at the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities campus). When I read the email that listed prayer requests for the event, my heart broke.

At the same time, something clicked. Why was I sleeping (in the metaphorical sense) when I should be awake?  I don't want to be "asleep" to all God does in the world. I want to be awake to His work in the world.

 I have attended IWU for the past 3 years. While I love my school; it breaks my heart to see the spiritual climate dwindling. As a student, I am required to attend chapel 3 times a week. This is sad to admit but my freshman year, I loved chapel; it refreshed my soul and encouraged me to pursue God and His heart.

Now 3 years later, I no longer depend on chapel for growth. I depend on my own personal devotion time. The issue I have with chapel are the speakers are random; I don't see how their topics are relevant to my life right now.

I don't mean to "bash" chapel; I appreciate their efforts. I just think and ask myself, "Is there anything more than this? and "What has happened to all the passion in our faith?"

Then I thought back to the outreach event held at the University of Minnesota. I thought how a large number of people might be reached for the Gospel, how God has the power to move at at state university.

And here I am. At a small private Christian university; where we should be passionate about what we believe in and not rest until everyone hears about a love that goes beyond what they know.

I'm not saying there aren't any on campus; I just don't see it.

That brings me to where I am right now in life.

God has called me out of mediocrity into a life of crazy passion of Him and His renown. It has taken me so long to reach this place in my life with God. I am now AWAKE.

I won't go back to "sleep" until the world hears about a love that changes their life.

All for HIS glory + ALWAYS <3

Direction and Calling

As a teenager in youth group, I loved the speakers at the retreats I attended. Afterward I thought, "He/She was so amazing" or "I really resonated with their message." However, I never gave a second thought to what went into delivering a message with conviction, honesty, and boldness.

Fast forward to my senior year of college. I am a Communication Studies major who recently had a direction shift from wanting to go into the music industry to going into outreach ministry.

This was quite a change for me (obviously). I thought "outreach ministry? That shouldn't be too hard, planning events for teenagers and young adults (college age)." But God took it a step further. I feel He is calling me to be an evangelistic speaker to teens and young adults.

My initial reaction was "Ha! What God? This is completely not me." I still feel that this calling isn't real, for some reason.

I am NOT a public speaker. I would rather be in the background than upfront.

But I'm at the point in my life where it's all about God, I'm sold out to Him and I can't deny whatever He's calling me to.

So if He is legitimately calling me to rise up and declare His faithfulness to the next generation, who am I to question it? I just go with Him as He leads. Every day.

All for HIS glory + Always <3

Say Yes

For the past four years, all I could talk about was going into the music industry because I said "music is my passion" and I wanted to pursue it as a career.

Yeah, I had ulterior motives. You see, it was all about me, what I wanted for my life.

Well now my senior year of college after a few months of praying, God changing and revealing things about me that have been hidden in the dark for so long, they are finally in His light and I can no longer deny what He has called me to: outreach ministry.

I would love to do events specializing in youth. At this point, I have no clue what outreach ministry means for me. All I know is that I am saying yes to Him.

I am surrendered to His will. It's all for Him.

All for His glory + Always <3

Amazing Faith

Faith is as deep as I want it to be. I keep prayer journals kind of obsessively. I have realized that everytime I open my Bible and write in my journal, God will change me.

The change won't always be immediate and a "spiritual high" type of moment. But I can't stop any sort of change that will come.

I know that is obvious. I was writing in my journal last night that more than anything in life, I want to pursue the heart of God. I want an amzing faith.

Not an "emotional high" type of faith but a life changing amazing faith.

How do I get an amazing faith?

By spending time in the presence of God.

It's a simple concept but if I implement this into my life daily, I will develop an amazing faith.

Then I will be even more in love with God, even more than I am now.

All for His glory + Always <3

From the Grave to Grace

The moment I came into the world, I began to die.

Before I depress you, let me explain.

I was dying not in a physcial sense, rather a spiritual death. I was outside of grace, subject to death, apart from Him who could bring into His abundant life.

Everyone was (and is) meant to live in His life. I recognize there are many cultures and many different religions. I seek to understand those religions that are different from mine.

This breaks my heart that atheism and other religions exist in the world. But they do. What can I do?

I simply live life in the light of God.I don't want to single out any religion because I don't want anyone to single me out because I am a Christian.

I have a testimony to share; nothing and no one can take that away.

People in the world have the freedom to believe in whatever they want.

Love is what motivated Jesus to die in humanity's place. It wasn't religion. The love of God can't be denied. The simple fact is everyone desires to be loved. And because of His great love for me, I went from the grave to life inside His grace.

All for His glory + Always <3